Hitch Rack for my Eagle HT

davisenvy · 03-04-2018, 05:24 PM

I have a 2016 Eagle HT 29.5 bhds and was wondering if I could put my dirt bike on a hitch rack behind the FW. The hithc is rated for 300lb tongue and 3000lb trailer. The dirt bike weighs around 265 wet. The numbers are there, but I'm a little leery of the bike bouncing and taking too much weight off of the pin. What say you?

Not sure how to post pictures so if you would google "Black Widow Aluminum Motorcycle Carrier - 400 lb. Capacity"

PlayersZ28 · 03-04-2018, 06:47 PM

Don't know how the hitch is mounted but if it's just bolted to the rear stabilizer mounts like the cargo rack then I'd want something a bit stronger (welded to frame rails) to hold a bike (that I wanted to keep).

2nOZ · 03-04-2018, 07:32 PM

We have the 28.5 HT with the same hitch. You might consider a small trailer to put the bike on and consider pulling it. That may be better than a heavy load bouncing on it.

TxLoser · 03-04-2018, 08:53 PM

My vote is for the small trailer. That's what I'd do. I'd considered this scenario for a small 250 DS bike or similar.

PlayersZ28 · 03-04-2018, 11:56 PM

Doesn't a trailer limit what states you can drive thru for triple tow?

davisenvy · 03-05-2018, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlayersZ28

Doesn't a trailer limit what states you can drive thru for triple tow?

This. It is illegal for me to do this in NC.

Force · 03-05-2018, 09:38 AM

OP...I have the same camper and though that hitch is welded in there pretty good, I would be very hesitant to put 300 lbs on it unless you are assured of very smooth roads. Bouncing up and down will really put some stress on things (and I mean the welds etc., I would not at all be concerned about it removing weight on your pin)

FWIW I have carried upwards of 150# on there w/o issue (I have of those 2' x 5' platforms that mounts in the receiver hitch and carry the generator and coolers that way sometimes, but more often than not it's a 4 place bike rack back there)

CampNow · 03-05-2018, 10:59 AM

I believe all the late model Jayco Eagle TT's and 5th wheels have the same receiver assembly on the rear. The 2" receiver tube is welded to a much larger square tube which in-turn is welded to smaller, square outboard tubes on the rear, bottom of each side of the frame. It just so happens that a 1 1/2" square tube will fit relatively snug inside these two outboard support tubes---plus they line up from left to right just above the 2" receiver opening.

Here is a PIC of a rear storage platform we fabricated for our Jayco Eagle. It uses the 2" receiver and the two outboard supports to support the platform. It's very rigid with zero flex, even if I jump up and down on the very ends of the platform. The platform, bicycles, and generator, weigh approx. 250 lbs. total.

Note: Although it looks like it in the pic (we were standing very close to the rear when we took the pic), the bike wheels do not obstruct the view of the taillights from the rear at all.

vcbice · 03-05-2018, 07:16 PM

While the hitch is rated for that load I would not put anything on the rear of my trailer.

Only happened to us on parts of I40 in construction zones, but, the 'whoops' bumps really tossed stuff around in the back of the trailer. Based on where stuff landed it was thrown in the air a good 8 inches (including stuff that weighed over 5lb) Several drawers were broken back in the bunkhouse.

So, whatever you put back there make sure there is no slop at all in the rigging.

Chrisb-24 · 03-08-2018, 10:17 PM

I beefed my rear receiver up on my 5ther because I felt that it wasn't good enough. If you private message me your cell number. I'll send you some pics of what I did. I was a welder in the Navy, so I know a little bit about reinforcing things up. I believe if you do to your 5ther what I did to mine. You'll never have to worry about your receiver weight again.

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